Texas Annual Conference
Epiphany
“Men’s Ministry is Essential”
Epiphany is observed on January sixth as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
The word epiphany is also used to describe a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something. That something could be, and I’m sure you will agree, should be “effective men’s ministry” in the Texas Conference.
I am convinced that a lay ministry for men, addressing the spiritual needs of men and connecting men in fellowship with the Holy Spirit is essential for all the men of every church, and vitally important for the growth of the church.
The most effective means of facilitating this ministry is for men to be connected with a common purpose, common goals and a common focus. There is much truth to the saying, “There is strength in numbers.”
I have traveled all over the Texas Conference this last year, visiting with District UMM Presidents, District Superintendents and local church UMM officers. My observance has been that men’s ministry is really doing very well in a few churches. Men and their pastors are working together as a team in several smaller congregations to make a real difference in their local community. A few, very few, men’s groups are reaching out beyond their local church or community in mission outreach projects.
We have many congregations whose men have formed their own group or fellowship, focusing on a weekly, early morning, prayer meeting, or a monthly Saturday morning breakfast, or a men’s Bible study. Some have fish fries, bar-b-ques, or sponsor yard sales. These are great local ministries. Many of the smaller congregations mistake the responsibilities of the Trustees Committee for Men’s Ministry work, such as mowing the church grass, trimming hedges and trees, painting buildings and fences. These things are important and must be done, that’s true. However, men’s ministry is focused on men growing spiritually and learning to be disciples and becoming effective disciples for Jesus Christ.
The 2004 Book of Discipline states: The United Methodist Men is the official agency of the UM Church that has “primary oversight for the coordination and resourcing of men’s ministry. Each church or charge shall have an organized unit of United Methodist Men chartered and annually renewed through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. Other organized men’s ministry groups in a local United Methodist Church shall annually report to the charge conference and be resourced through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. All local men’s church organizations shall provide a dedicated ministry for building men spiritually and involving men in the total ministry of the Church.”
The Epiphany is that men’s ministry is essential to the Church. There is an enormous opportunity for growth and effectiveness in making disciples for Jesus Christ. We can measure our effectiveness as disciples with our ability to reach out and connect the Source (Christ working through us) with those who need Him most. We will be much stronger and have a longer reach as we connect horizontally, church to church, and vertically, from the local UMM fellowships to District Men’s Ministry Teams to the Conference UMM Ministry Team. This interlocking network of faith will be woven into a fabric of force that will uplift and sustain all men seeking a personal relationship with Christ.
I encourage every pastor and all men leading local ministry groups to seriously consider establishing a United Methodist Men’s Ministry and officially Chartering through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. Prayerfully consider bringing this epiphany for men’s ministry into fruition.
Kenneth Tielke – Conference UMMen President
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